Raw Materials

Raw materials are used by professionals and hobbyists in a wide variety of applications, including automotive, industrial, electrical, food, and other manufacturing. Some raw materials are used in lab, medical, and scientific applications. Others are used in telecommunications, hardware, plumbing, 3D printing, and machining.

Raw materials come in various types such as metals, alloys, plastics, rubber, ceramics, glass, carbon, and graphite. They also come in laminates, composites, fabrics, fibers, and textiles. Metals commonly include aluminum, steel, stainless steel, copper, bronze, brass, and tungsten. Alloys, such as nickel and nickel alloys, and titanium and titanium alloys, are also commonly used. Plastics come in many types, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), acetal, and nylon.

Formed into various shapes, many raw materials come in mesh, film, sheets, tubes, bar, rods, and wire. These forms come in different lengths, widths, thicknesses, and quantities. Some raw materials have a smooth, textured, polished, or unpolished finish. Others can be coated or galvanized with zinc. They may also be coated or plated with PTFE, chrome, oxide, phosphate, or other material. Some raw materials have standard, precision, oversized, or undersized tolerance held. They can be opaque, transparent, semi-transparent, or colored. Some raw materials can be extruded, molded, or compressed.

Raw material properties vary, depending upon the material type. They can be selected for their resistance to corrosion, chemicals, temperature, weather, moisture, and impact. Some are resistant to stress cracking, tearing, or fatigue. Others are selected for their strength, stiffness, formability, and weight. Some have bearing and weight supporting capabilities.

Raw materials may meet standards, such as American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Aerospace Materials Specifications (AMS), American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI), or American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).